The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has clarified that the Federal Government has not approved the replacement of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) khaki uniform with Adire fabric, describing his earlier comments as examples of proposals under consideration rather than a final decision.
The clarification came hours after the minister suggested during a television interview that locally made Adire could replace the current khaki uniform as part of ongoing reforms aimed at promoting Nigerian-made products and supporting the country’s textile industry.
In a statement shared on his X account on Thursday, Olawande said no fabric had been selected to replace the existing NYSC uniform, stressing that his references to Adire and Ankara were merely illustrations of ideas that emerged during consultations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, yes, I mentioned Adire during the discussion. I also mentioned Ankara. My intention was simply to cite examples of some of the proposals that have been put forward in the course of our consultations. It was not an announcement that any particular fabric has been adopted or approved to replace the current NYSC uniform,” he said.
The minister explained that the government is still evaluating different options, with emphasis on professional appearance, national identity, durability, functionality, affordability and the promotion of national pride before any final decision is taken.
He added that any eventual choice of fabric or design would be based on extensive consultations with stakeholders and what best serves the interests of the NYSC scheme and the country.
Olawande urged Nigerians not to allow debates over the proposed uniform to overshadow the broader reforms recently approved for the scheme, noting that the changes are intended to improve employability, encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen national integration, enhance service delivery and ease the transition of graduates into productive careers.
The clarification followed the Federal Executive Council’s approval of major reforms to the NYSC, including the retention of the one-year service duration, digitalisation of operations, a shift in leadership structure from military to civilian administration, and plans for a redesigned uniform.
